Michigan State basketball got its season off to a fast start, with its opening exhibition win over Incarnate Word on Friday.
The Izzone was treated to a spectacular display from the Spartans’ top returners en route to a 30-point win.
That even included an outstanding 20-point performance from forward Jesse McCulloch who led the way. While it was outstanding to see McCulloch excel, the newcomers to the program had plenty of things they needed to show.
Make that 20 for Jesse!
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) October 3, 2026
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MSU bigs have some work to do, but the signs are there
First off, transfer center Anton Bonke, while he showcased his size at times. He certainly found his way into an early Izzo exchange as he overcompensated on several players, defensively, against much smaller players.
Bonke finished with four points and three rebounds, showcasing a nice jumper with a 3-pointer in the second half. He certainly had his struggles while his counterpart in the post, Ethan Taylor, was making a case for more time.
Taylor, like Bonke, finished with four points, but his presence was felt elsewhere with nine rebounds, one block, and two very nice assists.
The newcomers were a mixed bag
Jasiah Jervis was the most productive of the newcomers on the offensive end, finishing with 10 points, most of which came in the second half as he struggled to find his shot in his first few minutes on the floor. That included a stretch where all four freshmen were on the floor along with Kaleb Glenn.
Carlos Medlock Jr. flashed some glimpses of the future, though he certainly had some early freshman moments. He struggled to shoot but was able to finish with four points and three assists.
As for Julius Avent, he's going to be the player that likely will have a hard time seeing early playing time, but gave the Spartans a respectable run in the 10 minutes he played, with four points, two boards, and a steal.
These exhibition games are a good way for the young guys to adjust, and get used to the college game, especially the freshmen. With UConn coming into the Breslin next on Oct. 20, that should really make things interesting. Where football has been a major disappointment thus far, at least we’ve got basketball to lift our spirits.
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